​Cathy and Larry Lande

The front entrance to the Lande home welcomes visitors with a colorful mixture of tea roses, lilies, ice plant and salvia. A large maple provides shade and protection for a variety of plants thriving close to the home such as roses, wigelia and orange carpet. A large showy mountain ash on the south side of the home provides a canopy for hydrangea and hostas.

Proceed to the south side of the home and as you relax to the music piped into the back yard, you will find that you have entered a woodland park. Majestic trees along the east side of the property, such as aspen, blue spruce, tree of heaven and assorted evergreens provide a forest backdrop for the gardens. Two waterfalls cascade to ponds below and embrace an abundance of colorful annuals and perennials.

Some of the species you will find along the curved garden beds on the east side include butterfly bush, oriental poppy, barberry, columbine, and wild geranium. Children will delight at the fish darting about the pond on the northeast side of the yard. They are welcome to feed the fish. Of course the kids may be more interested in exploring the playhouse adjacent to the pond, a dream come true for a young child. Adults and children are free to step inside and enjoy the delightful play area, complete with ladder and loft.

The gardens at the back of the home include a large variegated dogwood, and bright green creeping jenny ground cover adjacent to an unusual perennial with ruby leaves, Bergeria Bressingham . In this bed you will also enjoy peonies, jupiters beard, spirea and asters.

Please step up to the spacious outdoor living space complete with fireplace and find a spot to sit and take in the ambiance of the wonderland around you. The large pots on the tiered deck are abundant with a variety of colorful annuals and grasses. As you listen to the chorus of the waterfalls, comingling with the piped in music, and enjoy the feast of colorful gardens, it is not hard to imagine large groups of people enjoying the sights and sounds of the Lande gardens. In fact, the family has hosted numerous celebrations in this very welcoming and tranquil setting. ​After relaxing a bit, you can return the way you entered the gardens. Or you can proceed to the north side of the property and exit adjacent to a lush hedge of snowball viburnum.